Bitch is a slur – and a powerful symbol – that continues to divide us. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to ever be fully reclaimed. Here’s why.
Articles on Swear words
Displaying all articles
Australians are outdone by Americans and Brits, both in how often they swear, and in how many users swear online.
The film is part soap opera about neighbourly conflict, part cosy teatime detective story. And it’s also a showcase for some delightful swearing – my area of expertise.
It’s not just you – there’s a reason swearing is so satisfying.
Politicians dropping the f-bomb tend to be seen as acting out of emotion, but the way we use taboo language is often about what we can accomplish by violating rules.
Here’s when the law says it’s okay to let rude words fly.
The n-word is a means through which hip hop reminds white listeners of the chasm of culture and experience between them and black America.
But the British soon got the hang of profanity.
When translating The 120 Days of Sodom, we had a duty to be just as rude, crude, and revolting as Sade.
The film’s exchange of Titty for Tatty is very much in line with Victorian censorship of profanities for children.
When Australians went to the Western Front, language failed them. So they invented slanguage: a mix of slang, French words and creative swearing that, among other things, gave us the word “Aussie”.
Did your child just drop the F-bomb? What can you do?
Top contributors
-
Assistant Professor of Multicultural Education, Teacher Education, and Childhood Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
-
Casual lecturer, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney
-
Deputy Head Arts and Media, University of Lancashire
-
Professor of French and Comparative Literature, Queen Mary University of London
-
Languages and Linguistics, The University of Melbourne
-
Doctoral Researcher in Late-Medieval Linguistics and Literature, University of Sheffield
-
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London
-
Professor of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London
-
Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Queen's University, Ontario
-
Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, Adelaide University
-
Reader in Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London
-
Associate Professor of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Queen's University, Ontario
-
Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, The University of Queensland
-
Professor of Linguistics, Monash University
-
Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England